Ghanaian forward Joseph Paintsil has called on Ghanaians to rally behind the Black Stars as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Paintsil’s plea follows the Black Stars’ disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, where they finished bottom of Group F with just three points. The team failed to secure a single victory, recording three defeats and three draws in six matches.
Despite the setback, Paintsil remains optimistic about the team’s future, urging fans to show unwavering support as they gear up for the World Cup qualifiers, which resume in March 2025.
“This is football – now all nations are really good,” he said, as reported by Joy Sports. “It’s not like 10 years ago when you saw another team and said, ‘Oh, this team, we are going to score them five or four.’ It’s a difficult situation now, and everybody is playing in Europe, so you cannot say this team is bad or that national team is bad.
“Because the more you think that, they surprise us. All they [Ghanaians] need to do is help us, pray for us, and support us in the upcoming qualification for the World Cup.
“That’s the most important thing. So, they should come in their numbers to support us, and we will make them proud and always give them their ticket in their pockets,” he added.
The Black Stars will reconvene in March 2025 to begin preparations for their crucial Matchday 5 and 6 World Cup qualifying games against Chad and Madagascar. Paintsil is hopeful that with the nation’s support, the team will bounce back and deliver a strong performance.
